Meerting of Mustangs: LH grads to clash when Gallagher’s WVU hosts Edenfield’s OSU

Rich Kolesar will head to Mountaineer Field on Saturday afternoon to take in West Virginia’s Big 12 football game against Oklahoma State.
While the game pits the Mountaineers against the Cowboys it’ll be a couple Mustangs that will mostly draw Kolesar’s attention.
The Laurel Highlands football coach will see LH grads Ian Edenfield, a tight end for Oklahoma State, and Rodney Gallagher, a wide receiver for WVU, playing on opposite sides.
Kolesar coached Gallagher all four of his years at Laurel Highlands and although he wasn’t the head coach when Edenfield played Kolesar knows him well, and his father, Chris Edenfield, is on the Mustangs coaching staff.
It’ll be a proud moment for Kolesar to see two LH football products, both playing at the NCAA Division-I level, on the same field. Both players have seen action in all six of their respective team’s games this season.
“I think Laurel Highlands has always had a lot of athletes and a lot of talent,” Kolesar said. “It’s really exciting to see our guys have an opportunity to play at a high level. I’ll be down there. I’ll be rooting for both of our guys to do well.”
Kolesar has kept track of both players throughout the season.
“I try to watch their games every weekend,” Kolesar said.
Edenfield, a 6-foot-5, 272-pound senior, is a former California University of Pa. player who the Cowboys brought in through the transfer portal to help with their run blocking.
“Ian plays his role,” Kolesar said. “He does his job and he’s waiting for some more opportunities.”
Gallagher, a 5-10, 172-pound true freshman, actually has more rushing attempts — seven carries for 45 yards and a 6.4 average — than receptions — two for nine yards. The former Mustangs star has had an impact though. His 15-yard run helped set up what proved to be the game-winning field goal in West Virginia’s 24-21 victory at TCU.
“It’s nice to watch Rodney’s role increase a little each week as he gets more comfortable there,” Kolesar said. “He’s getting ready to have a breakout game in the near future I think.”
It’s a key game in the Big 12 standings as both teams are 2-1 in the conference and 4-2 overall. The Cowboys lead the all-time series, 9-5.
There’s a good chance that another Laurel Highlands graduate will be playing D-I football in the near future.
Antwan Black, a junior on Kolesar’s current squad who missed some time this season due to a concussion, already has offers from Penn State, WVU, Pitt, Michigan State and Toledo.
“I definitely think Antwan will be playing at the level, too,” Kolesar said. “He’s a talented kid, he’s working hard and his future’s really bright.”
Saturday’s game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. and will be televised by ESPN.